Everytown, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Statements on Department of Education Weighing Plans to Use Federal Funding to Arm Teachers

NEW YORK – Today, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Students Demand Action released the following statements in response to a New York Times report detailing how the Department of Education is weighing plans to allow states to use federal funding to arm teachers.

STATEMENT FROM JOHN FEINBLATT, PRESIDENT OF EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY:

“This is outrageous. America’s teachers are already forced to spend their own meager salaries on basic school supplies, but the Trump Administration would rather use taxpayer money to buy them guns. The solution to school shootings isn’t putting loaded guns in the hands of teachers–it’s passing laws that will keep guns away from people who have dangerous histories. Congress must stop this dangerous proposal in the appropriations process.”

STATEMENT FROM LAURA BOOHER, A VOLUNTEER WITH THE TEXAS CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“My job is to teach middle school English – it’s up to lawmakers to keep us safe from gun violence. Firearms are the second leading cause of death for American children and teens and the first leading cause of death for Black children and teens. Arming teachers will not stop this crisis, but our lawmakers can. Congress must act immediately to block this.”

STATEMENT FROM JULIANA CARRASCO, A HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR AND VOLUNTEER WITH STUDENTS DEMAND ACTION IN MIAMI, FLORIDA:

“There’s nothing comforting about an armed history teacher – it just reminds us that we are never safe in this country. Students like me have grown up in the midst of our nation’s gun violence crisis. Congress has to act to stop this dangerous proposal, and start taking steps that can make us safer.”